Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 14:4 (Fall 1971)
Article: Simeon, The Tenth Tribe Of Israel
Author: Leon J. Wood

JETS 14:4 (Fall 1971) p. 221

Simeon, The Tenth Tribe Of Israel

Leon J. Wood, Ph.D.*

Early in the reign of Rehoboam the nation of Israel was divided into two parts. The northern division continued to use the name Israel, and the southern took the name Judah, after its principal tribe. The northern nation is commonly and correctly spoken of as being composed of ten tribes and the southern of two. This numerical division finds Biblical basis in the act of the prophet, Ahijah, when he announced to Jeroboam that he would be the first king of this northern division (I Kings 11:28–39). Ahijah met Jeroboam in a field, took his own “new garment,” and rent it into twelve pieces. He took ten of these and gave them to Jeroboam saying that God had given ten tribes to him over which he was to rule.

When we examine the identity of these ten tribes, however, a question arises. On the basis of the original division of the land among the twelve tribes, only nine fall into the areas of the northern kingdom: Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, Zebulon, Naphtali, Asher, Dan, Reuben, and Gad. Who was the tenth tribe of the northern kingdom?

The answer must lie in connection with one of the other three tribes: Judah, Benjamin, or Simeon. Since both Judah and Benjamin are regularly mentioned as belonging to the southern kingdom,1 the answer seems to be further narrowed to Simeon. Is it possible that Simeon came to be reckoned as belonging to the northern block of tribes? Actually, Simeon’s inheritance was the southernmost of all the tribes. How could this tribe have come to be aligned with Jeroboam’s kingdom? Yet there is reason to believe that it was. Several matters are involved which lead to this conclusion and their identity and significance can best be seen in the light of a brief historical sketch.

The man Simeon, progenitor of the tribe, was born to Leah as Jacob’s second son (Gen. 29:33). Nothing is known about him until he, with Levi the next youngest brother, championed the cause of Dinah, their younger sister, as over against Shechem, son of Hamor, of the city of Shechem, who desired Dinah for his wife (Gen. 34). Through a trick,

*Dean and Professor of Old Testament, Grand Rapids Baptist Bible College and Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

JETS 14:4 (Fall 1971) p. 222

the two succeeded in massacring all the men of the city of Shechem including the man Shechem and his father Hamor. As a result, Jacob found it necessary to move his family from the vicinity of Shechem due to the bitterness felt by neighbors. ...